I got a new job!

I recently have been MIA in the world of blogging-imagine that.  Some days I do really well and have so many great things to share but lately I can't seem to come up with anything worth sharing.  So here is what I got today- I got a new job.  I'm really excited about it; it's at Office Max in the Impress area. I'm returning to my days of working at a print shop, to be honest I kinda missed doing that kind of stuff.  What I'm still having a hard time doing...dealing with the customers, different paperwork forms, and all the different transactions possible on the register.  I figure it all takes time but I enjoy having something else to do besides school. 

New Year's Resolutions

I know what you are thinking, it's the end of January and this fool is now just starting her resolutions.  Yep!  Here's the thing, I really view Easter as the new year.  It's weird I know but for me Easter has always meant new life, new beginnings, close to my birthday so literally a new year of life for me..boo ya!  I also like to take the month of January and really think about some goals or resolutions I'd like to accomplish or work towards in the coming year. After I've thought of some good resolutions, I write them down, post them where I can see them, and then I start around the 1st of February.  Some are kinda silly, some will be a very big challenge but I'm excited about it!  A little challenge here and there is good, makes you a stronger person. 

In this coming year, I'd like to...(in no particular order)

1. wear my retainer every single night!
2. learn more about the family business
3. increase my knowledge on hobbies my family does
4. move onto bigger and better things or ideas...don't stop dreaming
5. complete the Certificate of Public Health Sciences with stellar grades
6. get accepted into the full Master of Public Health program
7. be okay with the idea that "normal" is different for everyone & truly accept my limitations
8. find some sort of job, take another course, or volunteer in more diverse areas
9. tattoo Believe on my left rib cage with my brother while he gets his rib piece
10. decide between Physician Assistant School and Medical School and just go for it
11. be more open with people, put myself out there more
12. update my blog more regularly

Here is my list of things I'd like to accomplish this year, if I hit the mark on all of them great, if I don't no worries.  Always got next year! 

How easy it is to forget...

I'll admit it; I slipped up on the fitness aspect of my life.  I got sucked into the holidays, finals craziness, being sick, and traveling which meant working out was.not.a.priority.  I regret this decision.  Why? I gained a few lbs. I forgot how much work getting back into shape was (not that I was in shape to begin with haha).  Most importantly, I forgot my pain that is associated with exercising and getting into shape.  I forgot that lovely depression stage in the cycle of chronic pain, that you feel wicked depressed but you aren't sure why.  Let me tell you something...I remember now.

This past week has been a struggle, filled with pain, a few tears (hate to admit that one!), sleeping more than is appropriate, slight isolation, and transitions.  I can't change the constant battle I have with my body and while my body is slowly resetting itself to once again handle the stress I put it under to be active and live my life; I will be resetting my way of thinking.  It's gunna be a slow process folks but as a dear friend told me, "You can't keep giving up on yourself and your body when you feel defeated or get owned by something... You have to keep believing in yourself and trying different things."

One day at a time...

Taking a Bath

I really enjoy taking a shower; showering is super relaxing and a great stress reducer.  No joke, I could end every single day with a shower.  I have been known to shower at 2 or 3 in the morning, all the crappy things about the day wash away & you can be so fresh, so clean, clean before going to bed!

Taking a bath on the other, stresses.me.out.  When I told this to my mom, she laughed at me and said, "That's funny because you used to love bathes so you could play in the water."  Well Mommadukes, times have changed.

Reasons why it stresses me out:

1. You are sitting in your own filth! You bathe to get clean not get more dirty.duh.
2. I'm too tall for standard tubs!
3. Water gets cold
4. I get cold
5. Don't get an ounce of relaxation, only anxiety
6. Hello instant bacterial growth
7. Soap scum left on your skin?  Um, I'll pass thanks.

SICK!

I wish I could enjoy taking a bath like a majority of the population; reading a book, being surrounded by candles, listening to music, I just can't.  Hot tubes, yeah I can get down on that.  I mean you are wearing a bathing suit, fully sunk in water, have chemicals, and super hot water-chances are you'll get too hot instead of cold. 

Does the thought of taking a bath completely freak anyone else out?  

My Best Friend's Wedding

This past weekend my best friend from high school got married in a beautiful evening ceremony; she looked gorgeous and beyond happy.  Of course, me being me never experiences a dull moment when I come home to visit.  For starters, my car was getting a tune up and wasn't finished.  Although we have a lot of other things I could drive they were occupied.  So how did I get to my friends wedding dressed in my wedding best...my dad's diesel work pickup. Haha That thing was no easy task getting in and out in a skirt let me tell you, but it got me to my friend's big day and I'm very thankful it did!!

I had the privilege to help her and her family decorate the reception on Thursday morning and even had lunch with them!  The wedding was an elegant snow flake, emerald green theme.  The center pieces were simplistic, beautiful, and something you would see on Pinterest- simply stunning!  I had such a great time at her wedding; it was great to see old friends and meet Erin's friends from college.  I would definitely relive that night- I love weddings!  I have the most beautiful friends a girl could ask for (on the inside and out) and enjoy spending time with them when I'm home! 

      

I'm back!

No, I didn't die, fall of the face of the Earth, it was just simply the end of the semester and blogging (among other things) got put well on the back burner.  Due to my absence, the next few days will be filled with posts, updates, fun tidbits, you know the usual. 

SO much has happened this past month, so grab your seat and lets ride this rollercoaster!

• Thanksgiving treated me well, it was very refreshing to have a few days to hang out with my mom, go shopping, lounge around, showers were optional, oh and recover from food poisoning.  Ha read more about my epic adventures this past month in an upcoming post! 

• I attended my Godson/nephew's 1st birthday party!  I can't believe how much he has changed and developed since June.  Going to Hayden's birthday made me realize a few things:
• Best pre-finals trip ever; might have to become an annual thing...I mean I did get straight A's!
• Little kids are pools of disease, cute as hell but full of germs....or maybe it was my brother...either way I know those 15 other kids had to be hiding something! ;)
• Hayden loves me, is hopefully starting to recognize me smiles and laughs at me.  I appreciate his affection
• Can't wait for him to get even bigger so we can go to the park next door
• He proved me wrong.  I always believed some tall, dark, handsome man would win my heart. Nope, turns out it was a cutie with bright blonde hair and an infectious laugh.
• Grandchildren really do bring families together...

•   Few of my best friends are CSU graduates, got rocked by exams, give great boosts to your confidence, and will be there no matter what
• I discovered the true love of Pinterest
• Had another epic adventure with food, allergies, sickness
• Saw a new chiropractor and skipped the gym more times than I went (epic fail)
• Started my application for the full masters of public health program- SO STRESSFUL! AH
• Drove home to Iowa

Like I said, a lot happened this past 4-5 weeks and I am so excited to expand on some of the bigger moments!

So off Asian Food

Here's the story as told by me:  I love Asian food, Asian infusion type cafes, Hibachi style restaurants, I like them all.  I mean what's not to like, rice, noodles, veggie, meat combo with a variety of sauces, seasonings, and hello SUSHI!

So why am I not loving Asian food?  First of all, I got food poisoning from eating an Asian rice bowl at a popular restaurant chain in the Colorado... 4 days before Thanksgiving.  It was beyond an awful experience; this was my first and hopefully but highly unlikely only encounter with food poisoning.  Let's just say I was sicker than I've ever been, but hey on the bright side I was really only one stomach flu away from reaching my goal pre-Holiday weight!  haha KIDDING!!

After this "life experience", I decided that I was going to take sometime off from Asian food or rice and peanut sauce rather.  After nearly a month, I thought you know what: I want some rice, I want some sushi, I want potstickers, bring it on.  Perfect timing, I was headed up to Fort Collins to visit my FOCO family and Sushi was on the dinner menu.

December 16, 2011  I had a fabulous time chatting with my FOCO family, eating like a fat kid, enjoying every single minute of my time until....I broke out in full body HIVES attack looking like a bad case of leprosy!  Seriously, I have the worst luck sometimes haha!  I kid you not, I got to my friends house after dinner super itchy.  I didn't think much about it until the next day when my skin was on fire.  I wasn't completely sure that I had hives or maybe I didn't want to believe it, however I am sure thankful my bestie's wonderful mother made me go to Walgreens with her.  She was right, I was having an allergic reaction to what I had eaten the night before and breakfast.

So what'd I eat: basically soy and dairy; which I knew I was somewhat intolerant of but wondered if I was actually allergic to.  My next item on my agenda; go to an allergist and have them narrow down my allergies because this trial and error stuff is for the birds. 

All I am saying is this: I am legitimately scared of Asian food right now!  Seriously, haha I'm scared of food and it is making me check every single ingredient label!  Food poisoning, followed by a 13 day dose of steroids to combat my leprosy hives ...which I will have you know I've had them for 7 days and counting; smh! 

I know I'll go back to Asian food but for right now- we are on a break!